Nick Cannon Talks New Season of ‘Wild ‘N Out,’ and Interactive Radio Show
Multi-hyphenate comedian Nick Cannon is truly a force to be reckoned with.
With a career spanning over 20 years, the 42-year-old has conquered various entertainment fields, leaving his mark in each one. From music – he released his first rap album in 2003, featuring prominent artists such as Mary J Blige – to acting, where he starred in box office hits like Drumline and Love Don’t Cost a Thing. Cannon’s biggest impact came through comedy with his groundbreaking show, Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out.
Fast Company reported that Cannon’s journey started at the age of 11 when he landed his first stand-up gig on his father’s show. As a teenager, he performed at The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, which paved the way for even more significant opportunities such as being a warm-up comedian at Nickelodeon Studios and becoming the youngest staff writer in TV history at 17. He wrote for shows like Keenan & Kel and Cousin Skeeter before finally hosting his own show on Nickelodeon, The Nick Cannon Show. It’s evident that Cannon is a seasoned professional in his craft.
His early comedy work prepared him for one of the most successful projects of his career, Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out. The NAACP award-winning sketch comedy and battle rap improv show recently returned for its 19th season on VH1. The series, which has grown in popularity since its launch in 2005, is known for its laugh-out-loud comedy routines and OG celebrity roster including Nelly, Mike Epps, Katt Williams and more.
Cannon recently opened up to BET.com about his career thus far and referred to Wild ‘N Out as a “blessing.”
“I created the show two decades ago just to give my friends jobs and put cameras on their talent, and in a subculture of improv that, you know, all of us were a part of in comedy clubs all across the country,” The comedian shared. “It was mixing hip-hop with improv and hip-hop with comedy. And for it to have sustained and grown to the platform to where it is now, it’s just as vibrant, probably more vibrant today than it was when I initially created it.”
But one of the most rewarding parts of his career, he said, is creating entities like Ncredible, his production conglomerate where he focuses on film, television, music and consumer products. “Over my career, I have learned so much, and in all these different industries,” the entertainer shared. “Now I can pass on everything that I’ve learned to the next generation.”
The entrepreneur says what he is most excited about these days is his upcoming weekly live interactive morning radio show, The Daily Cannon, premiering April 24th. The show will be available exclusively on Amp, the live radio app from Amazon.
“It feels like it’s a typical radio show, but the fact that you get to interact with your listeners and all of the people, they’re just as important to the show as I am,” the seasoned host said. “It’s not just a new technology, it’s a new experience.” As host, Cannon will interview and showcase rising talent across sports, music, and pop culture.
You can also catch Cannon’s new weekly series with Kevin Hart called Celebrity Prank Wars and as the host of NBC’s competition series The Masked Singer.
Watch Nick Cannon: Presents Wild N Out every Thursday on VH1 at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT